Pakenham South vs Pakenham

Pakenham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 46 in Pakenham South. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pakenham South, most households are couple families. In Pakenham, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Pakenham South tends to suit couples and older residents, while Pakenham suits families with children.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Pakenham South carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 74/100)
  • Pakenham has more childcare (39 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Pakenham South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($231/wk vs $351/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Pakenham

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (62.4 km vs 70.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 58 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Pakenham South has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 12%)
  • Pakenham is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.6% vs 6.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Pakenham South and Pakenham drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Pakenham South Pakenham
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Pakenham South Pakenham
Walkability 0 / 94
Pakenham South — Walkability: 0/100 Pakenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 49 / 26
Pakenham South — Safety: 49/100 Pakenham — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Pakenham South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pakenham — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 1 / 22
Pakenham South — Low flood risk: 1/100 Pakenham — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Pakenham has more residents (54,118 vs 229); Pakenham rents higher ($351/wk vs $231/wk).

Pakenham South Pakenham
Population 229 54,118
+23532% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.0% +16.6%
Median age 46 33
Median household income $89,856/yr
+4% vs other
 $86,528/yr
Median weekly rent $231/wk $351/wk
+52% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South Pakenham
0-4 3.1% / 8.3%
Pakenham South — 0-4: 3.1% Pakenham — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 10.5% / 15.7%
Pakenham South — 5-14: 10.5% Pakenham — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 6.1% / 5.7%
Pakenham South — 15-19: 6.1% Pakenham — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 8.3% / 6.1%
Pakenham South — 20-24: 8.3% Pakenham — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 10.5% / 17.6%
Pakenham South — 25-34: 10.5% Pakenham — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 8.3% / 15.7%
Pakenham South — 35-44: 8.3% Pakenham — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.0% / 11.0%
Pakenham South — 45-54: 14.0% Pakenham — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 13.5% / 8.0%
Pakenham South — 55-64: 13.5% Pakenham — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 15.3% / 6.3%
Pakenham South — 65-74: 15.3% Pakenham — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 7.4% / 4.1%
Pakenham South — 75-84: 7.4% Pakenham — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.7% / 1.5%
Pakenham South — 85+: 1.7% Pakenham — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South 67.4% couple families
Pakenham South — Couple Families: 67.4% Pakenham South — Lone Person: 21.7% Pakenham South — One Parent Families: 10.9% Pakenham South — Group Household: 0.0% Pakenham South — Other Families: 0.0%
Pakenham 47.9% couple families
Pakenham — Couple Families: 47.9% Pakenham — Lone Person: 27.6% Pakenham — One Parent Families: 19.5% Pakenham — Group Household: 3.6% Pakenham — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South 25.7% renting
Pakenham South — Owned Outright: 45.7% Pakenham South — Mortgage: 28.6% Pakenham South — Renting: 25.7%
Pakenham 32.2% renting
Pakenham — Owned Outright: 19.5% Pakenham — Mortgage: 48.3% Pakenham — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South Pakenham
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 15.7%
Pakenham South — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Pakenham — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 9.0%
Pakenham South — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Pakenham — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 8.3%
Pakenham South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Pakenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 3.2%
Pakenham South — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Pakenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.4%
Pakenham South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Pakenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Pakenham South Pakenham
India 2.2% / 6.0%
Pakenham South — India: 2.2% Pakenham — India: 6.0%
England 3.9% / 3.2%
Pakenham South — England: 3.9% Pakenham — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.9%
Pakenham South — New Zealand: 2.6% Pakenham — New Zealand: 1.9%
Sri Lanka 1.3% / 2.0%
Pakenham South — Sri Lanka: 1.3% Pakenham — Sri Lanka: 2.0%
Vietnam 1.7% / —
Pakenham South — Vietnam: 1.7% Pakenham — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany 1.7% / —
Pakenham South — Germany: 1.7% Pakenham — Germany: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.2%
Pakenham South — Philippines: not among its largest Pakenham — Philippines: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South 100.0% houses
Pakenham South — Houses: 100.0% Pakenham South — Townhouses: 0.0% Pakenham South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Pakenham 86.4% houses
Pakenham — Houses: 86.4% Pakenham — Townhouses: 12.7% Pakenham — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pakenham South Pakenham
Median house price — $700,000
Median unit price — $515,000
Median land price — $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 28 days
from 638 sales

Zoning mix

Pakenham South has more rural and farming land (83% vs 45%).

Pakenham South Pakenham
Rural and farming 83% 45%
Residential 0% 29%
Other and special use 13% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 8%
Industrial 0% 5%
Environmental 0% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Pakenham South Pakenham
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
same for both
Approvals change year on year +13%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Pakenham South Pakenham
Houses — 4.2%
$580/wk on $718K
Units — 4.9%
$510/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Pakenham South Pakenham
House price — Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 34% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 67% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of VIC

Liveability

Pakenham is more walkable (94 vs 0).

Pakenham South Pakenham
Grade — C
Score — 36/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pakenham carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); Pakenham carries more crime risk (74 vs 51).

Pakenham South Pakenham
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
74/100
Flood High
99/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Pakenham South Pakenham
Inside the suburb 0 15
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in Pakenham South

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Pakenham

  • Beaconhills College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Kuyim Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lakeside College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Pakenham Consolidated School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pakenham Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pakenham Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Pakenham South Pakenham
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 0 26
Childcare 0 39
GPs 0 13
Pharmacies 0 8
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 10
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 43

Mobility

Pakenham South sits further from the CBD (70.1 km vs 62.4 km).

Pakenham South Pakenham
Walkability score 0/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 70.1 km
+11% vs other
 62.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 53 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 3810
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Pakenham South Pakenham
Car (driver) 65.0% / 71.5%
Pakenham South — Car (driver): 65.0% Pakenham — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 20.0% / 18.4%
Pakenham South — Worked from Home: 20.0% Pakenham — Worked from Home: 18.4%
Car (passenger) 9.0% / 4.9%
Pakenham South — Car (passenger): 9.0% Pakenham — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Walked Only 6.0% / 1.0%
Pakenham South — Walked Only: 6.0% Pakenham — Walked Only: 1.0%
Train — / 3.5%
Pakenham South — Train: not among its largest Pakenham — Train: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

Pakenham South Pakenham
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km 16.4 km

NBN connectivity

Pakenham South Pakenham
Connectivity score 30/100 77/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
84 premises
 59%
21,915 premises

Climate

Pakenham South Pakenham
Annual rainfall 781 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Pakenham South Pakenham
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Pakenham South Pakenham
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Pakenham South Pakenham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Pakenham South

Rural

Pakenham

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pakenham South

Pakenham South vs Koo Wee Rup Pakenham South vs Officer South Pakenham South vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham South vs Cardinia

Other comparisons with Pakenham

Pakenham vs Officer Pakenham vs Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham vs Pakenham Upper Pakenham vs Officer South Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon North
Full data on Pakenham South Full data on Pakenham
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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